Music
From an early age I veered towards the art of music, in
the form of Irish harp and piano. I taught the Irish Harp in the DIT College of Music on gaining a teaching Diploma (VEC) in 1990. I also adjudicated Harp competitions in Granard and taught the harp in Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the
late 1990's.
This year sees the publication of my CD edition book The Complete Carolan Songs and Airs arranged for the Irish
Harp. This artistic unit captures my arrangements
for 226 airs in written and aural form. The arrangements are played by me on a neo-Irish Harp, and the book also includes Carolan's
extant lyrics set metrically to his airs along with historical notes. Discussions on varying styles of accompaniment for vocal melody, traditional ornamentation and styles of playing are
also provided.
Piping
For centuries, the one prevailing instrument of choice
for the men in my family has been the uilleann pipes. Family pipers
include nephews, brother Kevin, and of the past, father Leon,
grandfather Leo, grand-uncle Tom, great-grandfather William,
great-great-grandfather Samuel. Many of these were also uilleann pipe
makers. For more information please visit (courtesy of my brother and
Uilleann Piper, Kevin): Uilleann Piping in the Rowsome Family
